Wordpress on Ubuntu install plugins without FTP access

Question

I run my own web server for development and, on it, I installed a WordPress instance. When I try to add plugins to this instance from the admin interface, WordPress asks for FTP access.

I don't use FTP and have no plans to do so in the future. I know I can change some configuration in WordPress so that I am able to upload without FTP. What exactly should I configure to accomplish this?

Answer 1

One of three things:

1. Either change permissions so your web server can read the wp-content directory, which should be fine for a development server.
2. Run PHP as FastCGI which can run as a different user than your web server.
3. Install the ssh extension for PHP (sudo apt-get install libssh2-php on ubuntu on think)

Answer 2

Execute this command on your ubuntu terminal

sudo chown -R www-data /var/www

Answer 3

I was not satisfied with any of these answers so I kept on searching. I found an answer that was so simple I was surprised it had not been mentioned already.

https://askubuntu.com/a/826805/145472

This answer says to add a line to wp-config.php

define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');

Job done. I cannot take credit for knowing this but I do feel it needs a mention here too.

Answer 4

The funny thing is that uploading media works. So I was wondering why plugins not? After changing the ownership of wp-admin it worked for me.

sudo chown -R www-data wp-admin